Carbon removal buyers are expanding beyond tech to include sectors such as shipping and real estate. The image shows 1PointFive’s direct air capture facility in Texas. (Photo: 1PointFive)
The carbon removal market has entered an early stage of scaling, with delivery volumes of durable carbon removal credits surpassing 1 million tons recently. As international standards tighten, traditional avoidance credits can no longer meet compliance demands. Removal-based credits, which deliver negative emissions, are becoming indispensable strategic assets for companies navigating the path to net zero.
This article examines the supply-demand dynamics, evolving standards, and corporate strategies shaping the future of durable carbon removals — and offers insights on how businesses can stay ahead under evolving international rules. For deeper market data and a strategic roadmap to 2050, unlock our full report, “Carbon Removal: The Next Step in Corporate Climate Action."
Demand side: Companies have begun purchasing, and the SBTi 2.0 draft is shifting voluntary demand toward inevitable regulation
Demand in the carbon removal market can be understood in terms of the current landscape and emerging trends:
Current trends: Major buyers continue to increase purchases and new players are entering the market, with the buyer base expanding 41-fold in three years.
Over the past years, demand was driven predominantly by large technology companies. However, clear shifts have emerged in 2025:
- Significant jump in demand: In the first three quarters of 2025, purchase volumes jumped to 41 times the total volume for all of 2022, marking a shift into large-scale procurement.
- Financial sector momentum: JPMorgan Chase ranked second in 2025 procurement volumes. Together with Nordea, financial sector purchases are nearly five times those seen among the top 10 buyers before 2024.
- New entrants: The top 10 buyers in 2025 include shipping and real estate companies, reflecting broader industry adoption of carbon removal as a key strategy.
Figure 1. Annual carbon removal credit purchases by buyers[1].